Joseph walker



(No Model.)

J. WALKER & O. E. PERRIGO.

STRAW CUTTER.

' Patented Aug. 9,1881

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH WALKER, OF MANCHESTER, AND OSCAR E. PERRIGO, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA; SAID PERRIGO ASSIGNOR TO SAID WALKER.

STRAW-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,332, dated Aug lst 9, 1881.

Application filed January 10,1881. (N model.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH WALKER, of Manchester, in the county of Chesterfield and State of Virginia, and OSCAR E.-PERRIGO, of

Richmond, in the county of Henrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Straw-Gutter; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accom- IO panying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Our invention relates to machines used for cutting hay, straw, cornstalks, and materials of that class for fodder.

Our objects are,f1rst, to make an even, clean cut through the mass, cutting every piece of a regular length; second, to construct the machine so that no stray portions of the fodder shall escape the knife and either pass it without being cut or impede its backward motion; and, third, to accomplish the cutting with the smallestpossibleexpenditure ofpower. The machines at present in use fail to realize one or more of these important points. We

accomplish the first by giving the knife a positive endwise motion or draw-cut of not less than double the distance of that of the mass through which it cuts; the second by the peculiar angular shape of that side of the box 0 against which the material to be cut is forced by the knife, and by the position of the knifeguides in relation each other, as hereinafter described; and the third by the combination of the main or hand lever with the system of 3 5 segmental rack and cog wheels, and straight rack and cog wheels, whereby the draw-cut is produced.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our machine. Fig. 2 is a partial plan,

showing the knife-guides; and Fig. 3, an enlarged plan of the gearing of the hand-lever by which the machine is operated.

Similar letters refer to like parts in the several views.

A A is a strong wooden frame, in which the cutting-box B is mounted. In this the material to be cut is placed. The knife 0 is suspended at rightangles with the box by the lever D, pivoted to the frame at d and to the knife at 0. Upon the lower end of the knife O is fixed the rack E, which engages the large cog-wheel F.

Fixed to the large cog-wheel F is the small cog-wheel H, which engages the teeth of the toothed segmentK, fixed to the frame A. The cog-wheels F H are carried by the lever M, pivoted at m, and having a handle at M. A plan or edge view of this lever is shown at Fig. 3, which exhibits the relative position of the parts. 60.

To hold the rack E engaged with the cogwheel F, the guide-bar Gris provided. This guide-bar is fixed to the rack E, and is parallel to it, but set far enough back of it to line with the friction-roll g, running loose upon the shaft of the cog-wheels F H. (See Fig. 3.)

The knife O runs through the iron guides of, which are fixed to the frame A just far enough apart to admit of the knife 0 running freely between them, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be noticed that the portion ef of the guides ef is inclined inward, while the knife O is in clined in an opposite direction. Experiments prove that this is the proper position of these parts in relation to each other to produce the best cutting effect. It will also be noticed that the outer guide, 6, is placed a little back from the guide f. Across the base of the cutting-box the guide 6 is placed a little below the guidef. This is for the purpose of insur- 8o ing the clean cutting of the last few straws, experiments having demonstrated this as their proper position.

In the box B is one or more longitudinal ribs, b, the front end of which barely clears the knife. This rib (or ribs) is for the purpose of holding the material to be cut from slipping across and piling up in the corner of the box near the completion of the out.

On the lever M is a gage, p, composed ofa 0 piece of sheet-iron riveted to the lever. When the lever is raised this gage comes up in front of the cutting-box B and regulates the length to which the straw may be pushed out under the knife.

The operation of our machine is as follows, viz: The material to be cut is placed in the cutting-box B, and the knife being raised by elevating the lever M, the straw is pushed out under the knife and against the gage 19. By I00 forcing down the lever M the cog-wheel H is rotated in the direction of the arrow. With this turns the cog-wheel F, engaging the rack E and drawing down the knife 0. By the combination of the forward motion of the cogwheel H along the toothed segment K and the swinging motion of the lever I) the knife is thrown forward upon the straw at the same time that it is drawn downward. By this combination we produce the draw-cut. The cogwheel F being not less than twice the size of the cog-wheel H, the drawing motion is not less than double that of the motion forward, whereby great cutting capacity is acquired. (In its downward motion the lever M is prevented t'rom going too far by the stop a.) Upon again raising the lever M the straw is pushed out against the gage p, the lever M is forced down, and the operation repeated.

Having thus described our invention and its operation, we claim 1. In a straw-cutter, the lever M, in combination with the cog-wheels F H, knife 0, rack E, and toothed segment K, substantially as described, and for the purposes specified.

2. In a straw-cutter, the combination of the knifeGand leverD with the rack E, cog-wheels F H, toothed segment K, and lever M, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a straw-cutter, and in combination, the knife 0, lever D, rack E, guide-bar G, cogwheels F H, friction-roll G, toothed segment K, and lever M, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In the straw-cutter described, the knifeguides 0 f, having inwardly-inclined portions 0 f, said inclined portions being arranged one slightly back of the other, as shown, substantiall y as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness of the above we have signed this specification this 31st day of December, 1880.

JOSEPH WALKER. OSCAR E. PERRIGO.

Witnesses FRED D. GANN, RoLFE S. SAUNDERS. 

